Secrets Out: Best Brunch In Atlanta Under The Radar

If there’s something Atlantans can all agree on, it’s that brunch is the best meal of the week, and we have the scoop on where to find the best brunch in Atlanta, GA. So sleep in, roll out of bed and grab breakfast (or lunch!) with a Bloody Mary on the side — what’s not to love?

Atlanta has a brunch for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a spot to take the whole family, a celebratory Sunday brunch, or a brunch with indulgent goodies, we have it all. Here are the best restaurants for brunch in Atlanta.

Secrets Out: Best Brunch In Atlanta Under The Radar

How about a trip to France without the hassle of a seven-hour flight? Nestled in the heart of Buckhead, Anis Bistro resides in a converted house reminiscent of a charming Provence cottage with potted plants, cozy confines, and a convivial atmosphere.

Sunday brunch at Anis is appropriately French with offerings like Nutella crepes, steak and frites, and eggs Benedict on brioche. For some extra joie de vivre go a sunny day and dine on their covered patio.

Hidden from street view in a Buckhead office building, Local Three is like a restaurant speakeasy. Follow the signs through the building and you’ll be rewarded with a true contender for best brunch in Atlanta.

Everything the Local Three team does is with a tinge of quirk and their brunch menu, now offered on Saturdays and Sundays, is no exception. It’s a brunch buffet, but the twist here is that you go into their beautiful kitchen where chefs are constantly refreshing the buffet.

Check out their creative twists on classic brunch favorites like buttermilk pancakes with apples and miso caramel and custard French toast with red wine fig jam.

Buttermilk Kitchen is another Buckhead delight and epitomizes the best brunch in Atlanta with a side of southern hospitality. The brainchild of chef Suzanne Vizethann, Buttermilk Kitchen specializes in breakfast classics that use local and sustainable ingredients and rocks a from-scratch kitchen.

Naturally, you have to order a chicken biscuit with fried chicken on Vizethann’s famous biscuit with housemade red pepper jelly and a side of pimento cheese grits.

If that’s not enough, there’s also a waffle burger made with local sausage-beef. Healthy minded folks can stick to lighter, but just as delicious, dishes like the vegan cereal bowl (chia pudding) and house-roasted granola with Atlanta Fresh yogurt.

When you consider how good brunch at West Egg Cafe is it’s easy to see why people declare the Westside to be the Best Side.

People come in droves to dine in the bright and airy restaurant at the edge of the White Provisions District. Expect to wait at least an hour, but don’t worry, you can quell those hunger pangs with one of pastry chef Carrie Hudson’s housemade pop tarts or turnovers and a cup of Batdorf & Bronson coffee sold at the counter in the front of the restaurant.

Once you’re seated, order the short rib hash with poached eggs and braised short rib or sate you sweet tooth with banana bread French toast served with a caramel-banana sauce for extra measure.

Founded in 1996, Sun In My Belly (SIMB) was one of the OG farm-to-table spots in Atlanta. Set in the historic Bailey’s Hardware building, the Kirkwood cafe is warm and inviting with delightfully eclectic decor.

Although they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, brunch is what sets them apart from the rest. The brunch menu is extensive with something for everyone in your crew.

For the full southern brunch experience, opt for the shrimp and grits. If you err on the side of lunch at brunch, you’ll be delighted to find plenty of sandwich options. There’s even a menu just for the kiddos, so bring ‘em with you!

Ford Fry’s glamorous Italian restaurant in Buckhead’s Pinnacle building is home to one of the most elegant Atlanta brunches. When you’re greeted by the glimmering Chihuily piece in the Pinnacle’s lobby you just know you’re in for a treat.

The space sparkles during the day with floor to ceiling windows that allow the sun to fill the spacious room with sunlight and the soothing blue hues will make you want to stay awhile.

The brunch menu is a buffet-sit down hybrid: you order an entree, but treat yourself to the appetizer and dessert buffet. On the buffet you’ll find a variety of salads, cured meats, and not-too-sweet desserts. For your entree, you can go either way here with plenty of egg offerings in addition to the pasta selections that put St. Cecilia on the map. Standouts include the eggs in purgatory and the agnolotti stuffed with braised short rib.

A $65 brunch buffet isn’t necessarily an every weekend experience, but if you’re looking for a place to impress out of town guests or have a reason to celebrate, the Four Seasons Atlanta is a spectacular venue to do so.

The hotel lobby is impressive and the restaurant opens up to it allowing diners to have a brunch with panache. The buffet is extensive with various stations including a seafood bar (oysters, crabs, shrimp, etc.), salads, and heavier, traditional brunch buffet items like carved meats.

The stars of the show, though, are the beautiful dessert creations by Lasheeda Perry. If you’re lucky you’ll get to try one of her doughnuts painted to look like a starry galaxy.

A best Atlanta brunch found outside the perimeter in ever-expanding Smyrna, Muss & Turners was founded by Ryan Turner and Todd Mussman and owned in partnership with Chris Hall of Local Three. During the week lunch is counter service but brunch is a full service experience.

M&T is a community favorite that families, groups of friends, and couples alike are drawn to. Go big or go home, the best dishes here are indulgent to say the least.

Favorites include the Bucknasty’s Morning After with smoked Wagyu brisket, onion rings, and fried egg on H&F Bread’s pullman toast; the Chilaquiles de los Gringos with local Berkshire pulled pork, chorizo, salsa roja, and corn tortillas; and the andouille and grits.

Atlanta’s riverfront offerings are limited, so thank goodness we have Canoe which offers us a chance to enjoy the river in an exquisite way. Wind your way through Vinings and find Canoe in an unassuming strip mall concealing the magic of this lodge-like restaurant.

Inside, the space is beautiful with wood accents and offers serene views of the river; head to the back and you’ll find paths and seating along the river. This is brunch atlanta style.

Must-haves here include the pastry basket with a variety of sweet and savory treats, the she crab soup, and the duck n’beef burger with a sunny side up egg.

Doughnuts are America’s favorite breakfast pastry and my vote for best Atlanta brunch menu item. BeetleCat shows them the love they deserve with a brunch menu dedicated to the holed treat.

Head to BeetleCat’s downstairs den where you’ll find a retro setup and the indulgent “Donut Brunch” on Saturdays and Sundays. Start the meal with a round of individual doughnuts like the “O.D.B” with chocolate glaze and Oreos, and the “Chunky Monkey” with banana, chocolate, and walnuts.

Entrees include the French toast stack, a stack of doughnuts and strawberries; the crispy chicken between two glazed doughnuts, and several hashbrown dishes to choose from to help cut the sweetness.

A Decatur gem brought to us by celeb chef, Kevin Gillespie, Revival offers the quintessential southern brunch with recipes inspired by Gillespie’s family recipes.

Start with the old fashioned cinnamon roll doused in buttermilk frosting. This isn’t your ordinary cinnamon roll — it’s big enough to feed a family of four.

Southern dishes really shine here, like the fried catfish with smoked cheddar grits and milk gravy (don’t forget the hot sauce) and the “Almost Famous ‘Closed on Sunday’ Chicken Sandwich”, a pretty close replica of the fast food favorite.

Alternatively, the local kale salad with feta and boiled dressing is a nice option for those looking to keep it light.

A Jewish Deli meets the South at Emory Point’s beautifully designed The General Muir. From the same team that brought us West Egg Cafe, TGM’s kitchen is helmed by Todd Ginsberg, master of housemade pastrami.

There’s more than just pastrami at TGM, though, and the brunch menu satisfies those Jewish deli cravings with their open faced bagels — the Avenue A with nova, cream cheese, and grapefruit is particularly delightful — and smoked salmon over potato pancakes.

Their burger is one of the city’s best and luckily for brunch-goers it’s on the menu.

How about some bluegrass with your brunch? You can find this at Old Fourth Ward’s Venkman’s, the music venue-neighborhood restaurant hybrid. The space is large and they take reservations making it a great option for those traveling in groups.

Comfort food is key here and they particularly excel at dishes like the blueberry ricotta doughnuts with lemon curd, the breakfast poutine, and the duck egg hash. Psst – they also have bottomless mimosas.

Not to be confused with a certain bagel chain, Einstein’s has been a Midtown favorite since 1991. There’s a patio with ample seating, and a Bloody Mary bar to wet your whistle in a variety of fun, customizable ways.

Lia Picard is a freelance writer specializing in food, travel, and culture. Her work appears in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tasting Table, and other publications. Three years ago she founded a blog, The Cardigan Kitchen, to share recipes with an emphasis on local ingredients, and the latest in Atlanta’s dining scene. Lia seeks out the best dishes locally and globally and tells the stories behind them.